Chapel Ryan isn't crazy. At least, that's what she's been trying to convince herself of for most of her life. But after being hallucination-free for three years, Chapel finds herself facedown on her English classroom’s gritty linoleum floor. When she looks up, everyone around her is suspended in animation. Mouths hang open mid-yawn, feet hover mid-cross, Ms. Freeman’s armChapel Ryan isn't crazy. At least, that's what she's been trying to convince herself of for most of her life. But after being hallucination-free for three years, Chapel finds herself facedown on her English classroom’s gritty linoleum floor. When she looks up, everyone around her is suspended in animation. Mouths hang open mid-yawn, feet hover mid-cross, Ms. Freeman’s arm flexes mid-sentence diagram. It's another hallucination. Or, is it? Caracilia Luxury Coat Shawl Wraps Sweater Fur Cloak Bridal Wine Women Faux CapeChapel prepares to tear herself back to reality when something happens. Something that has never happened before in any of her hallucinations--someone moves. And not just any someone—it’s the new guy with a scar over his lip and a reputation as black as his perfectly styled hair. And all of the sudden Chapel's white-knuckle grip on her life has slipped, and with it, her assurance that what she's experiencing isn't real....more

Meet Chapel Ryan. Chapel is smart, she’s sassy, she’s has a spectacularly unique way of teaching Sunday school, and there’s something else uniquely special about Chapel too: for as long as she can remember Chapel has experienced hallucinations that cause her to stop time. We meet Chapel in English class just as she is about to experience an hallucination, her first in years, only this time, when Chapel freezes time, it doesn’t freeze completely. Out of her corner of her eye, Chapel sees someoneMeet Chapel Ryan. Chapel is smart, she’s sassy, she’s has a spectacularly unique way of teaching Sunday school, and there’s something else uniquely special about Chapel too: for as long as she can remember Chapel has experienced hallucinations that cause her to stop time. We meet Chapel in English class just as she is about to experience an hallucination, her first in years, only this time, when Chapel freezes time, it doesn’t freeze completely. Out of her corner of her eye, Chapel sees someone move. And not just any old someone, but new guy Isaiah Halstead. Zay is a guy with a dark past: a very, dark, mysterious, bad boy past. And like many a bad boy before him, Zay is hot as hell. He’s also interested in Chapel. But are his intentions honorable? Or does Zay have the kind of ulterior motives that could mean a whole lot of trouble for our girl? And just what does Zay know about Chapel’s hallucinations? More than he’s letting on, that’s for sure.

So much love for this book! Tempus had everything I love in a great YA read; mystery and intrigue, suspense and a whole lot of action. Did I forget to mention the romance? Oh, the romance! I couldn't get enough!

Ok, for your benefit, I've been sitting on this review for a while. I mean A. WHILE.

When I first read Tempus, I loved it.

Adored it.

I wanted to read it for the first time again and again.

And I couldn't write the review.

Because it was too gushy. Too fangirly.

So, I decided to let it sit. To allow myself some distance from it.

And let me tell you.

I still love it.

Chapel Ryan is a mostly normal high school senior. I say mostly because she has a creepy stepdad and she has, what she's been toldOk, for your benefit, I've been sitting on this review for a while. I mean A. WHILE.

When I first read Tempus, I loved it.

Adored it.

I wanted to read it for the first time again and again.

And I couldn't write the review.

Because it was too gushy. Too fangirly.

So, I decided to let it sit. To allow myself some distance from it.

And let me tell you.

I still love it.

Chapel Ryan is a mostly normal high school senior. I say mostly because she has a creepy stepdad and she has, what she's been told by doctors and therapists are, hallucinations. Sometimes, when she gets worked up, time seems to stop.

She also has a mysterious neighbor Isaiah, or Zay, whom she makes no denial about being attracted to.

However, there's no insta-love here! Chapel is smart, and headstrong, and she makes him work for her. Thank God! She doesn't just swoon when he comes around, and the conversations between the two are pretty entertaining, just like watching two friends joking around.

The relationship between Zay and Chapel builds slowly. It never feels forced for the sake of the plot. They both have full back stories that do excellent jobs defining who they are today. Tempus doesn't focus solely on their relationship, though, because we also get to experience Chapel with her best friends, Timmy and Erika.

My favorite part...

The dialogue...

Y'all, the dialogue in Tempus is incredible! I have never really noticed the conversations between characters in a book before, but this is good! Take one of my favorite scenes for instance:

“You’re sitting in Su’s seat.” “Then you better tell me fast.” “Tell you what?” “What time you’re off work today.”“And why would I tell you that?” Su walked in and immediately started gawking. Zay’s voice lowered an octave. “Because you don’t want me to stage a fake fight right here in front of Bennett Park High’s Most Likely to Wind Up on TMZ.” “You wouldn’t.” He lifted an eyebrow. “Chapel Ryan, I will not skip practice to make o—” She clamped a hand over his mouth. “What is the matter with you?” She shot a look at Su, who was watching them with blatant interest. In fact, half the class was. She let her hand fall away and whispered. “Are you twelve?” “Are you blushing?” Yes. “No.” “Time?” He flicked his head towards Su. She widened her eyes at him. “Same as yesterday. Same as every day.” “Every day? Well I was just going to walk you to practice one more time.” He shrugged, then picked up his book bag and returned to his seat. “But every day it is, Ryan.”

Tempus has the best of all the worlds. Some romance, some... I'm not sure if you'd call it paranormal or light sci-fi, but it has some. And it kept me guessing. I never had it completely figured out, but I loved being with Chapel on her road to finding out the cause of her "hallucinations" and the problems and decisions she faces because of them.

The ending absolutely floored me! I never saw it coming. I. Was. Stunned. I really hated that this book ended, because I'd love, love, love for it to keep going for about another 800 pages.

If I rated with five stars, Tempus would get six. I loved it that much. In fact, this is the first book in a long time that I loved. Not just liked, not just wanted to read again. Like, I want to own a hundred copies.

I told you I went all fangirl about this one.

And...

I'm sooooo excited because Holly Lauren has announced that she's currently working on the sequel!

*I was provided a copy of Tempus in exchange for an honest review. ...more

This book was absolutely incredible. The only reason I'm giving it four and a half stars instead of five is due to the number of spelling / grammatical errors in it. It is so disappointing to me, because this is the best young adult novel I've read in a while. The story and characters were so good that I kept reading despite the mistakes, but I know some readers would find this too distracting. This book really should have been edited before publishing. Still, it is amazing and deserves to be reThis book was absolutely incredible. The only reason I'm giving it four and a half stars instead of five is due to the number of spelling / grammatical errors in it. It is so disappointing to me, because this is the best young adult novel I've read in a while. The story and characters were so good that I kept reading despite the mistakes, but I know some readers would find this too distracting. This book really should have been edited before publishing. Still, it is amazing and deserves to be read.

I loved Chapel as a protagonist. She is such a kind-hearted person, yet she is strong, fiery. The romance that develops is intensely real, and I found myself smiling like an idiot numerous times. Holly Lauren is great at telling a story and at developing characters. It was a story I cared about and wanted to read; I had to keep turning the page, starting the next chapter, even when I should've been doing other things (like sleeping – I stayed up until 5 am reading).

Chapel is just trying to be a normal teenage girl, but her PTSD hallucinations are back. But are they really hallucinations? They seem so real, and there's something secretive going on with the few people who know about them. Could she really be stopping time like it seems when she has these hallucinations? She just wants them to stop. When she thinks she sees the new kid at her school, Isaiah, actually move during one of these episodes - while everyone else, everything else is completely frozen - her life begins to change, though she doesn't know it. She grows closer to Isaiah - Zay, as he told her to call her - and closer to knowing the truth about herself. And the world around her becomes more dangerous.

The portions of the novel that didn't seem to involve Chapel's "hallucinations" were just as riveting as those that revolved around them. I wanted to know the little things, like why her stepdad Todd behaves so oddly, what she would say when her ex-boyfriend / ex-best friend Logan confronted her, etc. Lauren's characters are all so intriguing. Who is the young and attractive football coach that seems to have taken such an interest in Chapel, even if it is only because he used to know her dad before he was murdered? Who is this dark and cool new kid Zay, who could have anything he wanted from any girl at school but wants to spend his time walking Chapel to practice? Who is Valerie, Chapel's distant and distracted mother, to whom she used to be so close but who she barely knows anymore? And what really are all their roles in her life? These are some of the questions that I was excited to uncover the answers to as I read Tempus - these and, of course, what really is happening when Chapel hallucinates?

This really is a fantastic novel, and I would definitely recommend it. I'm actually planning on typing up all the errors and sending them to the publisher because I think this book deserves recognition but won't get it until it's been cleaned up a bit. It’s really such a shame that there are so many simple mistakes that could’ve been easily fixed. Overall though, it is an incredible story.

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Edit Janurary 20th 2014:

After contacting the author and suggesting edits, the errors have been corrected, thus my review is raised to the five stars I think it deserves. This is really a fantastic novel, and the author is so nice. Definitely deserves a read, especially now that there is nothing holding it back. The version now available should be free from what I complained about previously in this review. :)...more

Tempus was everything that every YA author should strive for. Chapel Ryan, the POV character, understands that something about her is different from other people. Those close to her tried to slough it off as a symptom of PTSD. On top of dealing with this, she is mending the broken heart of first love, the gradual loss of a somewhat close relationship with her mother and a creepy stepfather that seems to be more interested in the results of his election than what is happening in his own house. BuTempus was everything that every YA author should strive for. Chapel Ryan, the POV character, understands that something about her is different from other people. Those close to her tried to slough it off as a symptom of PTSD. On top of dealing with this, she is mending the broken heart of first love, the gradual loss of a somewhat close relationship with her mother and a creepy stepfather that seems to be more interested in the results of his election than what is happening in his own house. But rather than wallowing in self-pity she puts on a brave face throughout most of the book and focuses her concerns on finding out what is wrong with her and how to normalize herself.

Over the course of the book, Chapel finds a new love interest, Isaiah. Ms. Lauren did an incredible job in building this relationship. The chemistry between the two is perfect from the beginning and Chapel’s reluctance to trust another boy so soon after having her heart broken is played in a manner that shows inner strength rather than weakness. At the same time, the mystery surrounding Isaiah is more than Chapel can resist and, eventually, a small crack in her self-imposed armor spurs the events that lead her to allowing Isaiah in just enough to solve her own mystery.

The book kept me guessing all the way through the reveal of why Chapel had these mysterious episodes and who (or what, given the paranormal undertones of the novel) Isaiah actually was. Never mind that as she made her journey to self discovery I wasn’t sure who was on Chapel’s side and who I wanted her to stay as far away as possible from. Even her three best friends came into question in my mind somewhere near the end of the book.

Other reviewers have made mention of the grammar and formatting issues so, although I must point them out, I won’t harp on that here. Because Ms. Lauren has acknowledged the feedback of her readers, and has expressed her gratitude for it, I also won’t let it hinder my review score and will, instead, focus on the exceptional plot and the brilliant writing style prevalent throughout the entirety of the book.

Let it be known that I do NOT enjoy YA romances; especially those with a paranormal tendency (although I’m a rabid fan of adult novels in this genre). Upon reading two extremely popular series where the POV female characters felt so damn sorry for themselves all the time, I’d sworn off of them for good. Having said that, I hope that the fact that I give Tempus a five star rating will convince others who have been turned off by the recent fluff of YA fiction give this unexpected treasure the well deserved benefit of the doubt. ...more

"Halstead, if you hang around me for any amount of time, you'll learn something about me: I'm not a halfway kind of girl."

Tempus was an interesting, unique, unpredictable book. The mix of paranormal and mystery, friendship and romance, and complex, likable characters gave Tempus the elements I most enjoy in a young adult book. Chapel was a fantastic protagonist. She was strong and sassy, yet soft and insecure at times. Isaiah (Zay) was an iFind this review and more at kimberlyfaye reads.

"Halstead, if you hang around me for any amount of time, you'll learn something about me: I'm not a halfway kind of girl."

Tempus was an interesting, unique, unpredictable book. The mix of paranormal and mystery, friendship and romance, and complex, likable characters gave Tempus the elements I most enjoy in a young adult book. Chapel was a fantastic protagonist. She was strong and sassy, yet soft and insecure at times. Isaiah (Zay) was an intriguing character. He seemed older than he was, I thought. But I really liked the friendship and relationship these two built.

"One day," he said, "you'll ask me a question. And the answer will be this. This moment. Right here and right now. I hope you'll believe me."

This book had a great mix of the paranormal and the more mundane. I enjoyed Chapel's journey to finding out what's really causing her hallucinations. Not to mention all of the other things she learned about the world along the way. I was kept guessing and never really felt like I knew what was going to happen. Mixed with all of this was struggles with her mom and step dad, the friendships she's developed and her relationship with Zay. Chapel and Zay were great characters with a boatload of chemistry. Their connection and the romance that develops felt genuine, never forced. They were easy to root for. I was invested in them and their relationship.

"Why can't I resist you?" she whispered, drawing him closer, every molecule of her being vibrating."Because we are the same." Zay spoke against her clavicle, moved to her collarbone, and hovered over her mouth. "Two broken people, trying to figure out how to make our hearts work."

The only thing that was rather disappointing about the book was the number of grammatical errors. I originally chalked it up to the fact I was reading an ARC. I know we're not supposed to review books based on grammar and typos, but, I'm not going to lie, the sheer number of them was distracting. What I learned from reading other reviews and visiting Holly's blog was that there were, in fact, a number of errors in the final version, too. I'm happy to say that the book is going back through another round of edits and will be re-published, according to Holly's blog. This book was so outstanding I'd hate to see typos cause it to get less attention and praise than it deserves.

"… I'm not the hero in this story. I'm just a regular guy who is going to screw up a lot. But I want to try. And what I should have said was that I want all of it. I want your stubbornness, your jealousy, your impetuousness, your determination, your strength, your laugh, you freckles, your heart. I want you."

In the end, Tempus was a thoroughly enjoyable read that was unlike anything I've read before. The ending was satisfying, but I was still left wanting more. I hope there's a follow-up. It's not to say the story couldn't be complete without it, but I'd love more of these characters and their story.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via LibraryThing, in exchange for an honest review. All quotes come from the review copy and may differ from the final version. ...more

This review was originally posted on [Between My Lines]There were lots of things I loved about this book. For starters - interesting supernatural powers, lots of intrigue and a couple with a snappy good humoured rapport. For mains - stimulating science detail to chew over. And for dessert - characters that break stereotypical moulds. Now that is sweet!

First line of Tempus by Holly Lauren:

"It had been years since Chapel Ryan's last hallucination".

My thoughts on Tempus by Holly Lauren:

I waThis review was originally posted on [Between My Lines]There were lots of things I loved about this book. For starters - interesting supernatural powers, lots of intrigue and a couple with a snappy good humoured rapport. For mains - stimulating science detail to chew over. And for dessert - characters that break stereotypical moulds. Now that is sweet!

First line of Tempus by Holly Lauren:

"It had been years since Chapel Ryan's last hallucination".

My thoughts on Tempus by Holly Lauren:

I was fascinated with the superpowers. Chapel's power is Tempus which means she can slow down time to an indiscernible pace and I love any time manipulation theme in a book. The explanation for the supernatual powers is a DNA mutation which seemed to make sense as I read it, just don't ask me to explain it!

But the high point is the dialogue and the relationship between Chapel and Zay. They are just a lot of fun together and I love that Chapel makes Zay earn a date with her by an elaborate point system! Plus they are cute together. Chapel is part of a solid group of friends and they are an unlikely foursome so they have a lot of different views and priorities and again they were just fun to be with.

A couple of things irked me and stopped it being a 4 star read.

- It was a little more religious than I like in a book. Just a personal preference. - I hated when Jay said "the easier a girl is to get in to bed, the easier she is to leave there." It felt so judgemental especially considering his own history.

But setting those two things aside, I still really enjoyed it. Chapel is feisty, mega independent, pretty confident and owns her beliefs. I love heroines that are quick witted and snarky and she steps right up to the plate on that score. The world building is a little confusing at times as there is a lot to remember but it's stimulating and refreshingly different.

And YIKES, hello CLIFFHANGER! What the what! You can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be reading on soon!

Holly Lauren is an incredible story-teller. Within the first three chapters, I could tell that Tempus was going to be both plot and character driven, and let me just say -- it was an amazing ride. Holly has such a natural ingenuity and grace with her writing, I was easily transported to the world of Chapel Ryan. I didn't just read about her -- no. I knew her. Chapel (and the rest of the cast) was so well-rounded and fleshed out, I forgot she was fictional. She easily captured my heart and felt lHolly Lauren is an incredible story-teller. Within the first three chapters, I could tell that Tempus was going to be both plot and character driven, and let me just say -- it was an amazing ride. Holly has such a natural ingenuity and grace with her writing, I was easily transported to the world of Chapel Ryan. I didn't just read about her -- no. I knew her. Chapel (and the rest of the cast) was so well-rounded and fleshed out, I forgot she was fictional. She easily captured my heart and felt like my BFF. From start to finish, I was rooting for this girl to win.

As for the story itself: solid.No.Rock solid.

At a certain point, I felt like I was strapped in a roller-coaster. There was this delicious excitement as the plot continued to crank, lifting me higher and higher, until finally I was at the arch. That pivotal point of no return. Let me just pause right there and express that statement. There was an actual moment when my chest expanded for the ridiculously huge breath I gulped down. Seriously, it was poignant.

Then, motherloving chaos, my friend. The best kind of SQUEEE around. A definite and discernible high that refused to relent until I'd soaked up the last sentence of Tempus.

But wait, there's more -- didn't think I was going to leave out the best part, did you? Yep, I'm talking about him.

Isaiah Halstead.

MAN ALIVE, this is the guy you dreamt about in high school. Okay, he's the guy you dream about xx (I'm not even going to touch on the dialogue, because there are several other reviews that include that stellar component. All and all, it was a wonderful escape, and I am wholly excited for the next installment.

Tempus, as soon as finished the book I was searching if there is a second one because simply the end can’t be like that I mean come on we readers need to ask the author to makes us a second book at least to understand.There is a lot in this story to tell.About Chapel and Zay, they look so normal and they can complete each others in the inside and out, they are the two half’s that together they can be a whole.For Erica and Timmy, I knew it I just knew by reading throw the book that there will beTempus, as soon as finished the book I was searching if there is a second one because simply the end can’t be like that I mean come on we readers need to ask the author to makes us a second book at least to understand.There is a lot in this story to tell.About Chapel and Zay, they look so normal and they can complete each others in the inside and out, they are the two half’s that together they can be a whole.For Erica and Timmy, I knew it I just knew by reading throw the book that there will be something between those tow and its good it’s really good.I really enjoyed reading Tempus, between the action, the drama, the mix up feeling, the hurt and the love, all those make a very very very good YD book to read.So the only thing remain is: is there a next? Otherwise its sucks really to not finish it :(

If Colleen Hoover and Cassandra Clare had a baby her name would be Holly Lauren!

Holy Wow!!! What an incredible debut novel. This book included all that I love in a YA novel. Romance, mystery with a paranormal twist, and phenomenal characters. For anyone looking for a fresh new voice in the YA arena I highly recommend Holly Lauren. I can't wait for the sequel!!!!!!

When GMTA Publishing first reached out to me, Tempus was the very first book that caught my eye in their website. So when they asked if I wanted to review the book, I was like, Yes!. The synopsis grabbed me because of the paranormal element in it, and I love my fantasy/magic/supernatural element in books, but Tempus surprised me in more ways than one, and I found myself really likinGiveaway for Tempus on my blog My Book Musings.

*Copy of Tempus via GMTA Publishing in exchange for an honest review

When GMTA Publishing first reached out to me, Tempus was the very first book that caught my eye in their website. So when they asked if I wanted to review the book, I was like, Yes!. The synopsis grabbed me because of the paranormal element in it, and I love my fantasy/magic/supernatural element in books, but Tempus surprised me in more ways than one, and I found myself really liking it until the very end. Holly Lauren/GMTA Publishing, please produce a sequel or a series for this book!

The character of Chapel Ryan confused me at times: she was a cheerleader and beautiful and popular, but she set herself apart from the usual cliche by not dating the 'jock' and by being friends with one of the school's biggest math nerds. And while I cannot relate to her character, I liked her personality. I liked that she was off-beat, and not so into her popularity. I suppose thinking you're crazy can do that to you. One of the things about Tempus that surprised me is that 1) They're Catholics (although I didn't get a hint of them practicing the religion) and 2) She's a virgin at eighteen. I know YA has themes of coming-of-age events, exploring sexuality and love, but I like that this book didn't concentrate on the passion between the two lead characters. I loved that she was strong, and able to banter with the other characters, but not too strong that she didn't know when to stop being stubborn.

Isaiah 'Zay' Halstead is one of those smoldering reformed bad boys so popular in YA nowadays. While I was never into their kind, I definitely get their appeal, and Zay has it in spades. I suppose these reformed bad boys are budding alpha males for future romance stories. They know what they want, and they go for it. In this case, despite all the confusion that Zay was dealing with personally, he still pursued Chapel. I loved how he put her needs and wants first, and that he respected her. I love that he didn't push her for his 'needs' or desire, although the physical attraction between them was there. I also love that even though Zay was very strong and had a temper, he never hurt Chapel and he never hurt anyone unnecessarily.

The secondary characters were also amusing and interesting. I loved the banter between Chapel's bestfriends, Timmy Valentine and Erica Monroe. I also want to know more about Valerie Ryan/Taylor (Chapel's mom) because I think there's more to her than meets the eye, and more to her second marriage than what was first presented.

There were times when I felt the story was too slow. I was halfway through the book and Chapel's 'hallucinations' remained unexplained. The first half was too much about the romance between Chapel and Zay. But as I realized later, it was a good way to establish the feelings between Chapel and Zay. I hate insta-love after all. After the first half, the abilities of Chapel is finally discussed, and that's the moment I finally fell in love with Tempus. I love the numerous twists in the story; although I hate the proliferation of men in her life, because her life felt too complicated already without the addition of having so many guys trying to date her.

Aside from the feeling at the start that the story was taking too long to get to the paranormal part, which was what I was looking forward to the most, I didn't like the unanswered questions about Todd Taylor, and why he was so weird around Chapel. Rush, Zay's best bud, also mentioned that Todd is weird, and yet Chapel never asks him about it. Logan, Chapel's ex, was brought into focus, and then just started dating someone else after trying to get back with Chapel. Also, there was the question about how her biological father became that rich, and why her mother was never able to touch a cent of it even when they seemed to need it, and this was not explored further.

The story ends with several cliffhangers that I hope will be answered by a sequel! I think Tempus ends in such a way that not having the story finished would be such a waste. I wanted to read Tempus more because of the fantasy element than the romance, but in the end, I loved how both played out. My favorite line in the story is this:"Ryan, something tells me that when it comes to a girl like you, even if I lose, I win."Gaaah swoon!

And because GMTA Publishing is just pure awesome, I have 20 ebook copies of Tempus to give away, open internationally, for participants thirteen years and older. I will contact the winners 48 hours after the contest ends.

There is also a soundtrack to get you in the mood while reading Tempus. The songs are pretty awesome.

Tempus is everything you expect in a young adult paranormal story. It's a fast-paced read with a hearty dose of action, romance, and mystery to keep you on your toes for most of the ride. Overall, I enjoyed it as it is, but this book was more of a 3.5 out of 5 for a few issues that I just couldn't look past.

For the first 25% of the book, I was confused and thought I misunderstood the genre of the book. I had to double check and make sure this book wasn't solely a contemporary book because it focTempus is everything you expect in a young adult paranormal story. It's a fast-paced read with a hearty dose of action, romance, and mystery to keep you on your toes for most of the ride. Overall, I enjoyed it as it is, but this book was more of a 3.5 out of 5 for a few issues that I just couldn't look past.

For the first 25% of the book, I was confused and thought I misunderstood the genre of the book. I had to double check and make sure this book wasn't solely a contemporary book because it focused so heavily on the high school romance. Chapel Ryan is a senior in high school, but she has no idea what she'll do after she graduates. She does know, however, that she just wants to be normal and aside from creepy stepfathers, cheating exes, and the attention of the new guy school, her life is as smooth as it gets. The only hitch is that she sometimes have "hallucinations" where time and everyone around her completely freezes. When she finally discovers what these "hallucinations" really are and that she's not alone in the world with supernatural abilities, the story starts to pick up and move at a faster pace.

That's not to say I didn't enjoy the romance in the book. I particularly enjoyed the push-and-pull flirty conversations between Chapel and Isaiah Halstead, her mysterious new neighbor. I love that Chapel doesn't deny that she's attracted to Zay from the beginning and that she makes him work for her affection. They both are able to have fun with each other which is what most high school romance should be about rather than the angst-ridden serious business some books try to make it.

However, I really wish authors would stop trying to portray stalker behaviors as cute or romantic which Holly Lauren unfortunately does with Zay. It didn't sit well with me that Zay was the type of person who would watch Chapel's bedroom window at night when she's asleep, know her locker combination without her consent or eavesdrop on private conversations. Now, I like Chapel. I like that she's headstrong and sticks to her morals, but it really bothered me that she was so trusting and willing to dismiss some of Zay's creepy tendencies. This one quote pretty much sums up everything I found disturbing about it:

"You know my work schedule, too? On a guy any less hot, that'd be creepy."

No, Chapel, no. This behavior would be creepy on anyone, whether they are attractive or not. It pained me that Lauren went this route with Zay when he still would've been an interesting, complex character without it. On the other hand, Chapel's friendship with the outspoken Erica and the nerdy Timmy was perfectly written. Best friends since they were kids, the three of them couldn't be any more different in interests and personalities and yet they're always there for each other. The interactions Chapel had with the two of them, and to some extent her ex-best friend/boyfriend Logan, provided some of the more touching moments in the story.

Plotwise, while some parts were predictable, there were still many twists and turns to keep things interesting, especially in the latter half when it started becoming more like X-Men. The ending absolutely floored me, but for those who want to get into this book thinking it is a standalone, I'd like to warn you now that the book does end with a major cliffhanger, hinting at a sequel. I haven't heard any news about a new book in the series, but I really do hope it happens because I'm actually looking forward to it.

As an aside, there are some glaring spelling and grammar mistakes in this book which is disappointing since it seems like it was published without a proper proofread. However, it sounds like the publisher and author already knows about the issues and the book will be re-released this year. Hopefully, it'll happen soon. (Rating: 4/5 but really a 3.5/5)

I’ve been on a bit of a YA streak for the past month or so. And let me tell you, I haven’t been disappointed. This book was one of the standouts among them. It was exciting, action-packed and full of drama and paranormal stuff. Boy, oh boy, I really couldn’t put this one down. Before I carry on with my review I have to mention that there were more than a few grammatical errors, but it, in no way influenced my feelings toward this bookFull review to come!!

I’ve been on a bit of a YA streak for the past month or so. And let me tell you, I haven’t been disappointed. This book was one of the standouts among them. It was exciting, action-packed and full of drama and paranormal stuff. Boy, oh boy, I really couldn’t put this one down. Before I carry on with my review I have to mention that there were more than a few grammatical errors, but it, in no way influenced my feelings toward this book.

I was totally girl-crushing on Chapel Ryan, our very troubled heroine. She knows she’s different from the rest of the crowd, she knows that there is no way in hell that she is suffering from PTSD, even though everyone she loves tries to sell it to her. She’s one of the few female YA characters I love. She doesn’t feel sorry for herself, she takes everything in stride and she sure as hell won’t take money from her creepy stepfather when she can work for herself. But with the arrival of the new, and very hot guy in town, well let’s just say things start to get stranger by the day. And Chapel is not willing to dust it all under the rug.

Now Isaiah is just a mystery unto himself when he first appears. And that mystery works for him. He does all he can to protect Chapel from things she doesn’t even know exists, which just slightly pissed me off because I really think she deserved to know the whole truth. But as the story unfolded and we find out more about Chapel’s ability (which is a very rare one just BTW) I conceded that Isaiah, is just a plain old good guy. And that was perfect. I loved the way this relationship kept building and building. Isaiah was relentless in his pursuit of Chapel and it was very comedic at times. The way the characters grew in this book was perfect and real. Their attraction and relationship was gradual and not instant, something I really appreciated.

This book kept me on my toes the whole time and was completely unpredictable. Well, except for the romance part. I’m definitely keeping my eyes and ears out for book two....more

Wow what a book! Tempus is so much better than I expected - I loved this book from the beginning. The opening chapter dives right into Chapel having an hallucination, but the first one in about 5 years. It sets the scene for the introduction of some main characters.

Characters: 5/5 Holly creates beautiful characters. They are well rounded and balanced.

Chapel - Chapel is smart, witty and genuine. I just love her, and she is easy to relate to. She puts everyone else first and is such a nice personWow what a book! Tempus is so much better than I expected - I loved this book from the beginning. The opening chapter dives right into Chapel having an hallucination, but the first one in about 5 years. It sets the scene for the introduction of some main characters.

Characters: 5/5 Holly creates beautiful characters. They are well rounded and balanced.

Chapel - Chapel is smart, witty and genuine. I just love her, and she is easy to relate to. She puts everyone else first and is such a nice person. She doesn't have any airs or flairs about herself, even though she is a cheerleader - a position which normally comes with issues. I connected with her so easily right from the beginning.

Zay - aka Isaiah, is charming and sweet. A bit of a bad boy rep, but you meet him initially as a nice guy and hear about his past. He is such a gentleman and so sweet when it comes to Chapel. I loved Chapel's effect on him and how she changed him as much as he changed her.

Chapel and Zay just make me fuzzy and warm. I love their interactions and bantering. This 'sort of' instalove just works. It's not overly gushy and is very believable.

Gabe & Rush - Gabe is awesome. He creeps into your heart so quickly. I wasn't sure which side he was on, but I still adored him. Rush is your sarcastic & humorous character. He teases Chapel to pieces and is Zay's best bud.

Coat Shawl Bridal Luxury Faux Cloak Wraps Sweater Caracilia Wine Cape Fur Women Plot, Pace, Writing style:5 /5 I was drawn into the book quickly. The plot was captivating, the pace was perfect and the writing style was brilliant. Holly has created an awesome world that is easy to love and get lost in. She brings in twists you don't see coming and keeps you glued to the story. I did sort of guess the ending but wasn't disappointed

Cover talk: 5/5 I love the simplicity of the cover. It is just beautiful.

Final Thoughts: This is the best YA book I have read in a long time. I am hooked and cannot wait for the next book!...more

I was given this copy by my publisher for my honest review. Even though Holly is like a co-worker to me, it didn’t effect my opinion in any way.

Wow!!! Tempus is on of those YA books that want me to kick myself for not coming up with something like this.She grabs you from the beginning of the novel. Her character are all beautiful developed and seem like the people living next door. I wish.

Now to get bOne of those books I want to kick myself for not writing myself. Lol.

Full review to come on 24/2

I was given this copy by my publisher for my honest review. Even though Holly is like a co-worker to me, it didn’t effect my opinion in any way.

Wow!!! Tempus is on of those YA books that want me to kick myself for not coming up with something like this.She grabs you from the beginning of the novel. Her character are all beautiful developed and seem like the people living next door. I wish.

Now to get back to the actual story. Chapel gets hallucinations, one where times stops and leaves her alone while everyone around her is frozen. She hates them and just wanted them to stop. It’s how this story begins, in class while Chapel gets an hallucination. Holly has done them so well, she describe every little thing in detail and you can actually see the paper in the air, the chair with her best friend Timmy in, almost crashing back wards.

Then someone moves in her hallucination and it never happened before. Chapel’s whole life changed from that moment as Zay, our hotty, moved.

I personally swoon over Zay as I read thin novel. He is a typical book boyfriend that you can’t get enough of. I loved every moment of Zay and Chapel interaction and all Holly’s characters are written so well. The dialogue is blow your mind away good and although this is a paranormal YA Novel it has that reality feel to it, which I love.

I couldn’t give Tempus a five rating, it’s a solid ten.

Well done with Tempus Holly and I can’t wait to get my hands on the second one.

Tempus is a novel I would recommend to anyone that loves a YA Paranormal.

I only WISH I could review this novel in good conscience without it seeming biased as I am the publisher. The only thing I will say, is as a publisher it's very rare that you run across good talent, and even rarer still to run across talent that exceeds expectation. I am very honored to have Holly Lauren as an author with GMTA and I hope to see her succeed beyond her wildest dreams. She's very deserving of success and you will not be disappointed by her novel. Below is a recent 5 star review thaI only WISH I could review this novel in good conscience without it seeming biased as I am the publisher. The only thing I will say, is as a publisher it's very rare that you run across good talent, and even rarer still to run across talent that exceeds expectation. I am very honored to have Holly Lauren as an author with GMTA and I hope to see her succeed beyond her wildest dreams. She's very deserving of success and you will not be disappointed by her novel. Below is a recent 5 star review that I think sums it up quite nicely.

(Note this review has been taken straight from Amazon and not edited at all. I'd like to say 'thank you' to the reviewer. To see this review and others on this book, feel free to go to this link: http://www.amazon.com/Tempus-Holly-La...)

5.0 out of 5 stars If Colleen Hoover and Cassandra Clare had a baby her name would be Holly Lauren!, January 21, 2014By Kindle Customer - See all my reviewsAmazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)This review is from: Tempus (Kindle Edition)Holy Wow!!! What an incredible debut novel. This book included all that I love in a YA. Romance, mystery, paranormal, and phenomenal characters. For anyone looking for looking for a fresh voice in the YA arena I highly recommend Holly Lauren. I can't wait for the sequel!!!!!!...more

I received this book through LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review. I've been kind of steering away from the YA genre because I'm over all the angst there is. I was pleasantly surprised by this one though. I really loved Chapel. She's mature and strong, considering the disconnect she feels with her family. I really enjoyed watching her grow and accept her ability once she discovers she's not crazy after all. The ending was satisfying with just enough suspense to have me craving more.

Loved this book! Holly is a great writer that draws you into this story! She did a great job making you fall in love with the characters and driving you along with the plot! I cannot wait for the next book!

Holly Lauren's Tempus, took me on a journey which encountered a bunch of twists and turns. I instantly "fell in love" with Chapel's character. It was a very enjoyable read. As a debut novel, I highly recommend this to all YA readers, and I look forward to other works by Holly.

Chapel Ryan has never been an ordinary girl. Her father died when she was very young, leaving her with hallucinations that her mother and therapist chalked up to PTSD. After years of therapy, Chapel thought she was cured, but soon after the mysterious and handsome Isaiah Halstead moves to town, her hallucinations start up again. With Isaiah at her side, Chapel soon realizes that there is more to her hallucinations than she originally thought. As she digs deeper, she learns that no one around herChapel Ryan has never been an ordinary girl. Her father died when she was very young, leaving her with hallucinations that her mother and therapist chalked up to PTSD. After years of therapy, Chapel thought she was cured, but soon after the mysterious and handsome Isaiah Halstead moves to town, her hallucinations start up again. With Isaiah at her side, Chapel soon realizes that there is more to her hallucinations than she originally thought. As she digs deeper, she learns that no one around her is as honest as they initially seemed. Faced with the biggest decision of her life, Chapel not only needs to figure out who she can trust but also whether to follow her head or her heart.

Opinion: Overall, I enjoyed reading this novel. It was fast-paced and had a wide variety of unique characters. However, sometimes I was left confused by the characters' quick emotional shifts and either overly dramatic or strangely calm reactions to certain scenarios. I liked that each character had something different going on in their life and they weren’t all simply focused on Chapel. However, I occasionally felt that there were too many subplots to keep track of. While it left me with lots of questions I hope will be answered in the sequel, Tempus was a solid read and a good start to the GenEx Saga.

I would recommend this book to high school readers who like fast-paced novels with shocking reveals.

Tempus was not perfect read for me, partly due to a few grammatical and typographical errors, but it was engaging and intriguing enough that I actually read it in one sitting. For someone who mildly suffers from book ADD, that says something. The fact that I kept on reading even after finding out that it has a few elements that I would normally avoid, that says A LOT. If you’re also new to paranormal, this is a great book to try the genre out because of the subtle way it approaches the3.5 Stars

Tempus was not perfect read for me, partly due to a few grammatical and typographical errors, but it was engaging and intriguing enough that I actually read it in one sitting. For someone who mildly suffers from book ADD, that says something. The fact that I kept on reading even after finding out that it has a few elements that I would normally avoid, that says A LOT. If you’re also new to paranormal, this is a great book to try the genre out because of the subtle way it approaches the subject. The first half of Tempus actually felt more contemporary as it mainly focused on boy-getting-to-know-girl in a very cute and lighthearted way.

To be honest, it took me awhile to get used to Chapel’s name. I obviously know where her name was derived from but it felt like one of those quirky unique ones that Hollywood celebrities give their children. Although, she’s what I consider an endangered character in YA Land…a cheerleader with a heart. Even when her name distracted me, she was definitely a likable character from the very beginning. She’s a popular girl who’s genuinely friendly, actually wants to stay a virgin and does not drink. She also doesn’t care who’s at the top of the high school social food chain.

“Isn’t it against the rules of high school hierarchy for a cheerleader to be best friends with the president of the math club?”

I like the fact that even though she’s a pretty and popular cheerleader, she still maintained her friendship with her nerdy childhood best friend and she doesn’t even try and change him so he can be considered cool. I think that’s probably the main reason why I enjoyed her character so much, she loves her friends for who they are.

I’m agnostic so I usually avoid books with a religious undertone and Chapel gave me the impression that she’s a religious girl but I liked that she never pushed her beliefs on others. I honestly wish all religious people can be as respectful as her. And although she’s a bit of a Mary Sue (another reading trigger for me), it didn’t bother me as much because even I, the reader, ended up really liking her so I understand why majority of the characters in this book cares for her as well, wether in a romantic way or not.

Chapel has a few male admirers but it was clear who her main love interest is. Isaiah ‘Zay’ Halstead is the mysterious new boy in school that started showing his interest immediately after the unwelcome comeback of her hallucinations, a secret that only her mother knows about. It was clear from the start that there’s more to Zay than meets the eye but since the book is only told through Chapel’s POV, we find out his secret the same time as Chapel does. Their relationship developed gradually and I’m happy to report that this is another book that’s absolutely insta-love free. I found their banter cute, adorable and totally age appropriate. I can’t even remember how many times I read a supposedly Young Adult book with characters acting like they’re in their 20′s. I also love the fact that even when Chapel developed feelings and started caring for Zay, she didn’t immediately classify that as love unlike most typical YA heroines.

“How do you feel about Zay?” Marielle repeated.
Chapel swallowed. She was just sorting through that herself. Did she love him? Sometimes it felt like that. But how did a person know that for sure?

If you are looking for a book where love conquers all despite its dire consequences, this book is not it. Both characters know how big their responsibilities are and it may not sound hopelessly romantic, it was something I appreciated because their relationship felt more realistic despite the book’s paranormal elements. Don’t get me wrong though, these two have a lot of swoon-worthy moments that made me go awwww but to be honest, I’m still not sure if Zay’s the right man for Chapel because I didn’t like a few of his actions in this book. I’m still really excited to find out what happens to their relationship though and I’m surprisingly not even opposed to a love triangle because Chapel certainly deserves the best man for her.

Tempus is clearly the beginning of a series and the end will leave you with a lot of questions about the future, an even bigger mystery regarding Chapel’s past and promise of a sequel that’s heavier on its paranormal elements. There was also a lot of questions regarding certain people in Chapel’s life that I think should’ve been answered on here rather than the next book. Although there was buildup regarding their mystery, there’s a possibility that I might not even remember the importance of that buildup when I finally read the second book. I am not a fan of the cliffhanger ending but despite that I enjoyed the book immensely and the cliffy ending actually got me very excited for its sequel. Seriously, I want it NOW.

I’m a big lover of paranormal books and I definitely enjoyed Tempus, but if you’re a contemporary reader who wants to try out the genre and is not opposed to starting a series, then I highly recommend this book. Its subtle way of introducing its paranormal elements makes it a great starting point for Fantasy and Paranormal beginners.

A copy was provided by the GMTA Publishing in exchange for an honest review....more

"Tempus" by Holly Lauren was a wonderful well written incredible young adult read. You will find some fantasy, mystery, suspense, friendship, romance and some likable as well as unlikable characters in the awesome told novel. Be prepared for action, drama, complex feelings mixed in with hurt and love all in this novel.

Here is a Quote from "TEMPUS"

In truth,

no one knew all of her.She gave out pieceTitle: TempusAuthor: Holly LaurenPublished: Libertine PressReviewed By: Arlena DeanRating: 5Review:

"Tempus" by Holly Lauren was a wonderful well written incredible young adult read. You will find some fantasy, mystery, suspense, friendship, romance and some likable as well as unlikable characters in the awesome told novel. Be prepared for action, drama, complex feelings mixed in with hurt and love all in this novel.

Here is a Quote from "TEMPUS"

In truth,

no one knew all of her.She gave out pieces of herself here

and there, but the whole

of Chapel belonged to no one

but Chapel. That was how she

wanted it.

The characters were also mainly all well developed, well rounded, colorful and simply fascinating to read about. We find that the two main characters Chapel(Chap) and Isaiah (Zay) were so very captivating and intriguing only to give the reader a good read. Let's not leave out some of the supporting cast/secondary characters because truly Erica and Timmy were Chapel's buds that were just a few of these phenomenal folk in "Tempus."

This author really works her magic taking the reader of a journey full of twist and turns of what was causing Chapel to hallucinate. Were there someone out there that knew her secret and could stop them? What happens when Isaiah (Zay) the new kid at school actually...well you will be kept guessing right up till almost the end of the read. Then you throw in problems Chap had with her mom(Valerie), stepfather, friends (ex boyfriend),(new boyfriend and then you have a real story that this author tells so very well. With all the struggles that were on Chap would she be able to except a romance with Zay? What was up with them being able to finish each other sentences?

This author really transported the reader into a 'world of Chapel Ryan' in that she was so 'kind hearted, strong and a fiery' person who was just trying to be a normal HS senior. Then their is Isaiah (Zay) will he let Chap know what is going on? ...and I will stop and let you pick up the good read "Tempus" to see for yourself how this author presents it all to the reader.

I will only say after reading "Tempus" is that you will be ready for the sequel and with that leaving me to say, Wow what a interesting ending!

Chapel made a complete circuit, peeking through the breaks in the stream, but she still didn’t see him. Had he left her there? The thought burned a hole through her excitement.

The song changed again. This time it was something more current. A woman singing about going around and around.

“Tell me now, tell me now, tell me now, tell me now you know.”

Chapel pulled her hair over her shoulder and wrung it out. She felt cold for the first time.

“Don’t know how to feel about it. Something ‘bout the way you move.”

She backed up to the center of the ring, making herself visible. She wondered if she should leave.

“Makes me think I can’t live without you, and it takes me all the way.”

“Chapel.” His voice was right behind her.

“I want you to stay.”

She turned slowly. Met his eyes.

“I want you to stay.”

All pretense of play was gone as his fingertips brushed against her chin.

"You're not at all what I thought you'd be,” he said.

Her heart thundered in her ears, along with the pulsing water around them. "What did you think I'd be?"

He drew his dark eyebrows down. "I thought you were just another girl."

She swallowed. "But instead I’m . . .”

“Not." He dropped his hand, stared at his fingers.

His breath was warm against her cheek as he stepped even closer and leaned his mouth toward hers.

She was paralyzed. Not by fear. Not by indecision. But by the feeling that the moment was unique. That it was monumental for them both. That they were lowering their shields, holstering their weapons—at least for that perfect span of time.

He kissed the side of her temple, just over her trio of freckles. When he leaned back and studied her, water droplets from his hair showered her like rain.

From the get go Tempus by Holly Lauren looks and feels like countless American high school-set YA, with prerequisite love triangle, cheerleaders and football jocks. And you can be forgiven for assuming that, because for the first half of the book that’s pretty much all there is. Except that the protagonist, Chapel Ryan, occasionally suffers what she terms as “hallucinations”. For all that Chapel is your average cheerleader type, with a prerequisite loyal tight-knit group of quirky friends, she lFrom the get go Tempus by Holly Lauren looks and feels like countless American high school-set YA, with prerequisite love triangle, cheerleaders and football jocks. And you can be forgiven for assuming that, because for the first half of the book that’s pretty much all there is. Except that the protagonist, Chapel Ryan, occasionally suffers what she terms as “hallucinations”. For all that Chapel is your average cheerleader type, with a prerequisite loyal tight-knit group of quirky friends, she literally stops time occasionally, and has little control over these episodes.

Consequently, she thinks she’s a freak and she goes to great pains to be as normal as possible. Her home life might look ideal from the outside, but tensions abound. Her stepfather is an upwardly mobile politician and Chapel’s mum, Valerie, is focused on raising Chapel’s young twin half-sisters. So Chapel can be excused for feeling a bit isolated on the home front, especially since she is still struggling to come to terms with the fact that her biological father died when she was only three. And she so doesn’t like her stepfather. He’s uber creepy as all hell and I don’t blame her for giving him the cold shoulder despite his generally amiable advances.

One of the main accusations I often level at YA fiction is that the main character is primarily boy-obsessed. Not so in Tempus. Chapel is a well-rounded character. She worries about what her future holds beyond sole interest in the opposite gender. She takes charge of her life as much as she can while still technically a minor. She genuinely cares about her friends. She’s a hard worker who’s not afraid to stick to her guns. Chapel tries to do the right thing and applies common sense when solving problems. (Oh, guess what? She’s not clumsy! You have absolutely no idea how refreshing this is.)

Yes, it can be argued that Chapel’s a bit squeaky clean (hello, she’s a Sunday school teacher, it don’t get squeakier than that) but at no point did she make me want to gouge out my eyes.

A word on the love interest: Isaiah is the dark, dark, edgy and unsuitable boy with a dodgy past. He also lives next door to Chapel (but it’s not so much of a coincidence as you’d think). His stalkerish behaviour, however, does creep me out a bit, so I wasn’t entire comfortable with their relationship. Okay, he wasn’t as bad as Edward Cullen, but he was pretty bad.

The reasons, for his behaviour do become clear later on yet still, yeah, I’d be less than thrilled if my love interest pulled a few of the stunts Isaiah does right in the beginning when they’re first getting to know one another.

Let me add that Lauren is pretty good at misdirection. There were a few outcomes in the story that I expected, especially with regard to the love triangle trope that she successfully uses as red herrings. And I think those little bits of misdirection definitely contributed to my enjoyment of the story.

The underlying premise of Tempus relates to the concept of genetic mutations that allow people to perform an assortment of supernatural feats. Over the years, these people have formed secret societies and they’re not playing nicely with each other. With her rare ability to stop time, Chapel finds herself in the midst of a tug-of-war for her loyalty. She doesn’t have all the details and for her it’s a race to uncover the truth about herself, her father’s death and stay a step ahead of a dangerous enemy.

Lauren throws in a few sneaky twists and turns, so not everything is as one would expect. World building is generous and offers a lot of scope for development of the story.

Of course no review would be complete unless I shared a few of my niggles. While overall pacing is tight, and only a few typos grabbed me by the eyeballs (mostly homophone abuse) there are some moments when the writing goes too fast and I had to reread passages a few times to gain the gist of what was going on.

That being said, these moments didn’t make me want to chuck my phablet across the train carriage because Lauren settled those speed wobbles quickly.

Tempus makes me think a lot about the X-men and in that respect should appeal to superhero fans. Would I read book two – definitely. Lauren delivers a solid, action-packed YA tale that’s tight, features well-defined characters and has a lot of potential for an ongoing series....more

**We received a copy of this book from the author, but that did not influence the review**

Celeste’s review: 3.5 stars rounding up to 4 Wow, I’m not really sure how to rate this story. Parts of it were 5 stars, amazing, brilliant, outstanding…and other parts were too much, bogged down, totally irrelevant. The storyline itself, told in 3rd person POV, was really, really good and sucked me in from the beginning. It peaked my interest and that isThis book was originally reviewed on The Book Hookup.

**We received a copy of this book from the author, but that did not influence the review**

Celeste’s review: 3.5 stars rounding up to 4 Wow, I’m not really sure how to rate this story. Parts of it were 5 stars, amazing, brilliant, outstanding…and other parts were too much, bogged down, totally irrelevant. The storyline itself, told in 3rd person POV, was really, really good and sucked me in from the beginning. It peaked my interest and that is what kept me turning the pages.

The paranormal aspect was wicked cool. I loved it from the synopsis and I loved it even more when I got into the story. However, it turned out that there was so much more going on than just Chapel and her “gift”. There were teams, battles, recruiting, power struggles…so much to keep up with, and almost too much information. I think a lot of that could have been left out.

The romance was (and is) full of potential. The chemistry from the first chapter was totally evident. It was definitely a slow build up, and had plenty of bumps along the way, but it was there, and it was good. However, the greedy romantic in me wanted more. More kissing, more hand holding, more whispers in the ear…yep, all that stuff.

Is this the first book or is it a stand alone? It ends with a kind of cliffhanger so I am assuming there’s a book 2. There’s also too many loose ends. The biggest one for me is Todd. He obviously fits in somehow, but it wasn’t evident. The same with Valerie. Even if there is a book 2, we at least needed to be thrown a few bones to see what direction parts of the story would go in.

Would I rec this? Yes. I love paranormal stories and this was a really fresh idea. I also think that while the storyline itself got a little too bogged down with detail, the overall idea of it was really captivating and worth the read. I would absolutely read book 2, as I would love to know what happens with Chapel and Zay.

Ana’s review: 4 stars This book had a great storyline and some very intriguing characters. The paranormal aspect was different and interesting and the romance was well done, if not just short of what I’d have loved to see. However, I guess I need to keep in mind that this is YA and the romance should actually take a slow course. So…maybe the romance was just right. There was a good amount of mystery surrounding Isaiah (Zay) and an even bigger mystery when it came to understanding what was happening to Chapel. Both main characters were strong and I especially appreciated that as far as Chapel was concerned. It’s not often we find a girl who’s more concerned with her future than with the handsome boy next door. Don’t get me wrong, there was definitely chemistry there! It’s just that the romance didn’t consume Chapel’s every thought and that was very refreshing. This is a heroine that young girls should look up to.

This book pulled me in right away…from the first scene. I was excited to see where it would go. What I did find, however, was that the first part of the book could have moved along at a quicker pace. The intensity of the first scene was not duplicated again until quite a few chapters later and that left me wondering where the story was going. I also felt that this book needed to be tightened up a little bit…given more of a laser focus. For example, in my opinion, some of the secondary characters really didn’t need to be there. They took up space and, because we weren’t given enough information about their storyline, they felt unnecessary. I can only guess that they’re there to be explored in the next book, which should be interesting based on the ending of this one.

Overall, this was a unique story. The writing and plot were very good and the main characters were likeable and well developed. I look forward to seeing what happens next....more

You guys! Have you ever read a book and thought, "This is exactly what I didn't know I was looking for."? That was this book for me. I've been in kind of a reading slump, looking for an engrossing book but getting frustrated by the descriptions I was reading. When I won this from Daisy Chain Books, I figured it was a sign to give it a try. And I am so glad I did!

Chapel Ryan is your normal teenage girl. Or at least she hopes she is. She's a cheerleader, does well in school, has a crazy best frienYou guys! Have you ever read a book and thought, "This is exactly what I didn't know I was looking for."? That was this book for me. I've been in kind of a reading slump, looking for an engrossing book but getting frustrated by the descriptions I was reading. When I won this from Daisy Chain Books, I figured it was a sign to give it a try. And I am so glad I did!

Chapel Ryan is your normal teenage girl. Or at least she hopes she is. She's a cheerleader, does well in school, has a crazy best friend. Her dad died when she was three and her mother has been distant since marrying an up and coming politician. But what teenager doesn't have parent problems? The only problem is her hallucinations, which are a side effect of the PTSD she got when her father was killed when she was so young. But well, they seem so real. Normal people can't stop time though, can they?

I can't give too many details about the plot here because I have a strict no spoilers policy, but oh my goodness did I love this book. I went into it expecting a really light fluffy read and was pleasantly surprised to find a really intricate, well-crafted story that kept me guessing until the end.

And the characters! Chapel is who I want to be. Determined, self-confident and brave. She makes mistakes, who doesn't? But she's always doing her best to help others. And she knows her heart. When Zay comes into her life, it's not insta-love. And that's part of what I really appreciated about this book. You actually see a relationship developing. Sure, Zay is gorgeous and she's not immune to that, but it's not what's most important to her. The supporting characters here were awesome too. They definitely weren't just place-holders, but fully developed characters within their own right. I absolutely loved Erica, who was there for Chapel during everything. And can I say Zay again? Wow, definitely a swoon worthy book boyfriend there.

I could go on and on about this one but it's really hard to discuss without getting into some spoilers. Let's just say that if you were on the fence about reading this one, definitely pick it up. And if you were looking for a book and weren't quite sure what you were looking for, try it. You may be pleasantly surprised.

I'll leave you with some quotes that I had to highlight while reading it.

Quotes

"The thing about high school, Ryan, is that there are always girls. Sometimes they're pretty." He shrugged. "But they're rarely interesting. And pretty without interesting is like a gun without bullets. All you can do is throw it at somebody, but it's not going to knock them down." Loc 837, 14% on Kindle

Chapel tilted her head. "I don't think of pain as something that can be measured. It either hurts, or it doesn't." Loc 1423, 24% on Kindle

I had the displeasure of reading this on my phone, so I’ll put a little disclaimer in here. External reading conditions really do matter. If you’re sitting there reading a wonderful book while being nervous or something, you probably won’t like the book as much. Well, the discomfort of reading anything on my phone makes the book just that much worse. But the good thing is, I thoroughly enjoyed Tempus despite these conditions, so just think I may have loved it even more! I also didn’t get to lookI had the displeasure of reading this on my phone, so I’ll put a little disclaimer in here. External reading conditions really do matter. If you’re sitting there reading a wonderful book while being nervous or something, you probably won’t like the book as much. Well, the discomfort of reading anything on my phone makes the book just that much worse. But the good thing is, I thoroughly enjoyed Tempus despite these conditions, so just think I may have loved it even more! I also didn’t get to look at its beautiful cover!!

Tempus begins as a normal contemporary young adult novel. I figured I was getting an average high school romance, but instead, it’s so much more. Chapel has hallucinations were she “stops” time. No one moves. No one. Until one day, the mysterious new neighborhood bad boy shifts ever so slightly. And at that moment, everything changes. She’s no longer just Chapel trying to hide her imperfections and survive high school with minimal damage. Now, she’s on a roller-coaster ride of emotions, and she has a sneaky suspicion their are secrets about herself no one is sharing.

I enjoyed the relevance of the novel. It’s obviously new and contained a lot of pop-culture references which may not be understood later on, but for now, it makes the high school experience pretty close to the real thing. None of the dialogue is cheesy or unrealistic. Chapel is a sassy teenager with normal responses that don’t seem contrived.

It may begin as contemporary, but the book contains a science fiction twist, which I will not spoil! I expected an average, and maybe somewhat overdone, story, but the surprising ending made it so much more.

The one unrealistic thing (other than the whole science fiction thing) is the fact that Chapel literally has at least four guys swooning over her every move. And throughout the story, everyone keeps mentioning how “special” she is, when really she’s pretty average. Nothing is particularly shockingly magnificent about her behavior or anything.Caracilia Cape Fur Coat Shawl Bridal Women Wraps Cloak Luxury Faux Sweater WineAlso, in the beginning, the whole hallucination thing didn’t flow into the story. It’s almost as if Chapel had too many problems between being crazy, having boy trouble, having family trouble, AND the plot twist, it’s overwhelming. A couple parts are confusing, and some of the back-stories are jumbled.

Otherwise, if you’re tired of the same old plot structure, Tempus is just the remedy. It’s a completely original story with a realistic take on high school life. Not everyone is just getting drunk or just studying or having clique battles. Holly Lauren mixed science fiction with contemporary and created a fabulous novel.

Today I’m having a book, which I received over a year ago, but I somehow lost the thread while reading or just something came up, so I didn’t have time to finish it. But now with my campaign to read all my started books this was number 6 on the list. Though I actually still have to read number 1 and 2. Because before I stopped reading the book I had covered more than a half, as soon as I started reading it I was quite confused. Because truthfully speaking I couldnsee full review @ Katie's Corner

Today I’m having a book, which I received over a year ago, but I somehow lost the thread while reading or just something came up, so I didn’t have time to finish it. But now with my campaign to read all my started books this was number 6 on the list. Though I actually still have to read number 1 and 2. Because before I stopped reading the book I had covered more than a half, as soon as I started reading it I was quite confused. Because truthfully speaking I couldn’t really remember half of what was happening. But I regained my memory very fast and was wondering why was it that I dropped this book.

First of all, I adore when the book is about people with super powers and there are organizations hunting them. Don’t you love such books? They’re fun and it’s always interesting to see how the author wants to build his or her realistic world with people running with super powers. Ms. Lauren did it great, and I actually liked that she put some limitations on some of the powers. Mostly on Chapel and her ability to pause time. Wouldn’t it be awesome to pause time? Ideally yes, but if you’re thinking that you’re going crazy then of course hell no! And that’s what’s happening Chapel! I enjoyed Chapel a lot. She’s a great character and very interesting to follow. She’s strong but she does loose her strength in some moments, but you still love her immensely, because if she continued to be strong in that moment she’d just lose all her Chapel points.

What really astonished me in this story is the romance direction. Until the last moment in the book I was waiting for her to choose Gabe, but somewhere in the middle of the book it was clear that she would stay with Zay. Zay does disappoint me in some parts, but in the end I still liked the guy. When I first got the book I already knew that I would have at least one more book after it. And truthfully the Epilogue of the story left me speechless for a minute or so. I had my suspicions, more like hypothesizes, but to actually implement it and ruin the memories of someone, well, Chapel to be exact, I didn’t think the author could do it to her character. I’m off to read the second book, because it promises to be fantastic! I hope you’ll start reading this series very soon! Enjoy it to its fullest an don’t forget to share your thoughts below! Stay tuned for more reviews as well as promos! Don’t miss your next favourite book or manga! Happy reading!